Internal combustion engine having induction system with aerodynamic charge motion control valve

Abstract

An internal combustion engine having a cylinder and piston located therein has a charge motion control valve for controlling kinetic energy within an air charge flowing through an intake runner and into the cylinder of the engine. The charge motion control valve includes an actuator for controlling the position of the valve and an aerodynamic, wing-shaped valve disc being rotatable from a closed position to one or more open positions. The valve disc has leading and trailing segments. The leading segment masks airflow at small opening values of the valve and the trailing segment acts to prevent flow separation when the valve is in a wide-open throttle position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An internal combustion engine comprising: at least one cylinder; at least one intake runner for providing charge air to the cylinder;   a poppet valve, located in one end of the intake runner, for admitting charge air into the cylinder;   a charge motion control valve for controlling the kinetic energy within charge air flowing through the intake runner, with the charge motion control valve comprising:   an actuator for controlling the position of the charge motion control valve;   an aerodynamic, wing-shaped valve disc being rotatable from a closed position to one or more open positions, with the valve disc being operatively connected with the actuator, and with the valve disc comprising:   a leading segment, facing upstream when the valve disc is in its open position, with the leading segment being configured such that at small openings of the charge motion control valve, flow past the leading segment is masked; and   a trailing segment, facing downstream when the valve disc is open, with the trailing segment being configured such that when the valve disc is in a fully open position, airflow past the valve disc remains attached to the valve disc.   
     
     
       2. An engine according to claim 1, wherein said charge motion control valve further comprises a nozzle formed in the valve disc, with the nozzle having a converging portion facing upstream when the valve disc is closed and a discharge portion facing downstream when the valve disc is closed. 
     
     
       3. An engine according to claim 2, wherein flow passing through said nozzle when the valve disc is in its closed position and over the trailing segment and through the nozzle when the valve disc is in a partially open position is directed along the same portion of the intake runner. 
     
     
       4. An engine according to claim 1, wherein said valve disc is mounted upon a rotatable shaft operatively connected with said actuator, with said valve disc having a maximum thickness corresponding to the thickness of the shaft. 
     
     
       5. An engine according to claim 4, wherein said valve disc is molded integrally with said shaft. 
     
     
       6. An engine according to claim 5, wherein said valve disc and said shaft are molded of plastic material. 
     
     
       7. An engine according to claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises a dc motor. 
     
     
       8. An engine according to claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises a stepper motor. 
     
     
       9. An engine according to claim 4, wherein the shaft and valve disc are mounted between said intake runner and a cylinder head which houses said poppet valve. 
     
     
       10. An internal combustion engine comprising: at least one cylinder;   at least one intake runner for providing charge air to the cylinder;   a poppet valve, located in one end of the intake runner, for admitting charge air into the cylinder; and   a charge motion control valve for controlling the kinetic energy within charge air flowing through the intake runner, with the charge motion control valve comprising:   a motor driven actuator for controlling the position of the charge motion control valve;   an aerodynamic, shaft-mounted, wing-shaped valve disc being rotatable from a closed position to one or more open positions, with the valve disc being operatively connected with the actuator, and with the valve disc comprising:   a leading segment, facing upstream when the valve disc is in its open position, with the leading segment being configured such that at small openings of the charge motion control valve, flow past the leading segment is masked;   a trailing segment, facing downstream when the valve disc is open, with the trailing segment being configured such that when the valve disc is in a fully open position, airflow past the valve disc remains attached to both sides of the valve disc and recombines without trailing vortices; and   a nozzle formed in the valve disc, with the nozzle having a converging portion facing upstream when the valve disc is closed and a discharge portion facing downstream when the valve disc is closed.   
     
     
       11. An engine according to claim 10, wherein said trailing segment comprises an airfoil.